Lantern black-out dimmer



R. C. MILLER Oct. 5, 1943.

LANTERN BLACKOUT DIMMER Filed June 5, 1942 53 INV ENT OR.

R0 r c Av/4 4 6/? ATTORNE Patented Oct. 5, 1943 "3 E PATENT" om 1 ZZZEiZ a Application June 5, 1942, serial No. 445,832

I '4 Claims.

This invention relates to a lanter-n blackout dimmer.

The general object of my invention is to provide a novel means for enablinga lantern to be dimmed orextinguished for blackoutpurposes. f

A more specific object of-myinvention to provide a lantern including .a pair of telescoping sleeve members so arranged that relative movement between the members will cause the light from the lantern to :be dimmedor blacked out.

Another object of my invention is to provide a blackout dimmer including a pair of telescoping members together withnovel means for operating the members.

A further object of my invention is to provide Fig; 1 is a front elevation, partly in section,.

showing a lantern embodying'the features of my invention; I i L i Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, partly in section, showing myinvention; i

Fig. 3 is a section taken on "line.:3"3 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sideielevationpartly in section showing a modification; and V Fig. 5 is a-sectiontaken on line .5--.5 of Fig. 4 and showing the modification in blackout position.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters I have shown my invention as embodied in .a lantern which isindicated generally at I0. The

lantern :maybe of any'generalconstruction and preferably includes a base .IJI'haVing anupwardly rojecting portion 12 which constitutes the burner. From thebase Hza yokememberHextends upwardly and is provided with .a transverse top portion It. From the top portion a :stem l5 projects downwardly and supports .a closure .l 6. :The closure includes the customary depending resilient spring member l1. TheFpartS of'the lantern previously described are of the usual construction and form no part of the present invention;

The device constituting my invention includes an inner sleeve member l8 and an-outer sleeve member 19 which is telescoped over the inner sleeve member. The" inner sleeve" member as shown is made of a pair ofv halves 20 and :21 (Fig. 3). which are united in seams 2:2. {Theseams 22 extendoutwardly so that diametrically opposed external beads are provided. i

The outer sleeve 19 is preferably made of .8 single piece of metal with the edges thereof joined at 23 to form a cylinder. The metal of the member l9 at opposed sides is indented inwardlyas 20 provide slots .32.

at 25 to form :aninwardly directed groove. The grooves 24 are diametrically opposed and areuo'f a size to slidably receive the bead 2.2 on the inner member.

1 5 The inner member I8 is provided at its pper end with a flange 2-5 which includes a downwardly extending portion 26. and a, lower outwardly extending peripheralgportion :21. The portions 2.6 and 2] receive and engage a similarly shaped :portion 28 on the upper end'of a chimney 29. The lower portion of the chimney 29 is supported on a flange 30 on the lower portion of the lantern inthe usual manner.

The spring member 11 engages the portions .26 and "2'! on the flange 25 and thus holds the inner sleeve member I 8 in place.

.The outer sleeve member includes a plurality of outwardly punched louvers 3| which are downwardly directed and between the louvers ;3l I

member 13 is lowered as shown in Fig.2, direct light from {the source 3.3 of the lantern outwardly and downwardly. j

At the lower end, the inner member 18 in- 25 eludes an outwardly directed flange 34, while the upper end of the outer member l9 including an inwardly directed flange '35. When the outer member is lowered; as shown in Fig; 2, the flanges 34 and 35 engage and thereby limit the down- ,30 ward movement of the outer member.

The inner member includes a bottom closure 36 which has a central hole v3! which fits over the guard tip 38 of the burner when .the outer member is lowered. y y

To hold the outer member in elevated position, the inner member is provided with a spring 36. fastened at 31' to the in-nerwall of the inner member.- This spring 3.6 includes shoulder .39 which passes through a slot 39' in the inner member and normally engages beneath the-flange 35; as shown in Fig. l. The .spring 36' extends upwardly as at All from the shoulder and then extends outwardly as at 4| between the flange 25 .and the closure I6.

The construction is such that when the portion .41 is moved inwardly the shoulder 39 will .be withdrawn from engagement with the flange 35 thereby allowing the member [,9 to drop todimposition. 1 Q i To restore the outermember to non-dimming position the lantern may be invented andthe portion 41 moved inwardly whereupon .a slight shake .will cause the outer sleeve to move downwardly. If desired, a pull member 42 mounted .on the .outer member I8 .at .43 and extending upwardly through .a hole 44 in the closure L6 may be pulled to thereby lift the outer member.

My invention is particularly adapted for use with lanterns such as employed as safety lan- 60 terns by contractors and others as a warning The louvers 3|, when the outer I9 will drop so that light from the flame 33 will be shielded by the outer sleeve. ever, will not be entirely extinguished since'rays from the flame 33 may pass through the slots and impinge upon the louvers 3| whence they will be directed downwardly. The amount of light emitted will depend on the width of the slots 32 and the arrangement of the louvers 3|.

After the blackout is 'over the outer sleeve may be returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 by pulling up on the member 42 or by pushing in on the end 4| of the spring 36 and inverting the lantern. 1 V

In Figs, 4 and 5, I show a modiflcationlofmy inventionwherein an inner tubular sleeve 50 is provided with vertical slots in its sidewall. This inner sleeve. includes downward extending integral tongues 52 which-are inserted through diametrically opposed holes 53 in the chimney supporting portion 30' of'the lantern. I

Mounted upon the inner shield I show a second sleeve 55 which is arranged exterior of the sleeve 5| and is provided with slots 56. outer sleeve is rotatable on the inner sleeve-and the slots in the two sleeves are preferably of uniform width and length so that in one position of the outer sleeve-as shown in Fig. 4-the I slots are aligned so that light passes therethrough. When the outer sleeve is rotated on the inner sleeve the slots are moved out of alignment so that light from the light source is cut off. The outer sleeve includes a frusto-conical upper portion 56. and a reduced cylindrical por- In order to rotate the outer sleeve this sleeve is provided with a finger'fil which is secured as at 58 to the outer sleeve. through a slot 58 cut in the portion 30; r

In use of the modification, the air warden engages the finger 51 and shifts the outer sleeve when the light is to be dimmed or blacked out and reverses the operation when the occasion for alarm is over.

From the foregoing description it will be'a'pparent that I have invented a'novel lantern blackout dimmer which can be economically manufactured and which is highly efficient for its intended purpose.

Having thus describedmy invention, I claim: 1. In a blackout lantern, a lantern having a chimney, an inner sleeve in said chimney, means on the lantern for holding the sleeve in place, V

an outer sleeve slidable on the inner sleeve, means to limit the movement of said outer sleeve on the inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having spaced slots therein, the portions of the outer sleeve above each of the slots being outwardly directed to form The The finger 51 projects The light, how- 2. In a blackout lantern, a lantern having a chimney, an inner sleeve in said chimney, means on the lantern for holding the sleeve in place, said inner sleeve having an outwardly directed flange on the lower end thereof, an outer sleeve slidable on the inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having an inwardly directed flange at its upper end adapted to engage the outwardly directed flange on the inner sleeve when the outer sleeve is slid along the inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having spaced slots therein, the portions of the outer sleeve above each of the slots being outwardly directed to form louvers, and a spring member secured to said inner sleeve, said spring member including a shoulder portion, said inner mentioned sleeve having, a slot through which said shoulder portion projects, said shoulder being directed to engage'the inwardly directed flange 'onthe outer sleeve, said spring including an upwardly extending portionwhich terminates in an outwardly extending portion accessible from without the chimney.

3. In a blackout lantern, a lantern having a chimney, an inner sleeve arranged within said chimney,'said inner sleeve having an outwardly directed flange at the upper end thereof, said flange engaging a portion of the chimney, means on the: lantern for holding the flange in place, said inner sleeve having an outwardly directed flange on the lower end thereof, an outer sleeve slidable on the inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having an inwardly directed flange at its upper end adapted to engage the outwardly directed flange on the inner sleeve when the outer sleeve'is slid along the inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having spaced, slots, the portions of the outer sleeve above each of the slots being outwardly directed to form louvers, and a spring member arranged within said inner sleeve, said spring member including a shoulder portion, said inner sleeve havingla slot through which said shoulder portion projects, said shoulder being directed to engage the inwardly directed flange on the outer sleeve, said spring including a portion accessible from without'the chimney.

4. In a blackout lantern, alantern having a chimney, an inner sleeve arranged within said chimney, said inner sleeve having an outwardly directed flange at'th upper end thereof, said flange engaging a portion of the chimney, means on thelantern for holding the flange in place,

said inner sleeve having an outwardly directed flange on the'lower end thereof, an outer sleeve slidableon the inner sleeve, said outer. sleeve having an inwardly directed flange at its upper end adapted to engage the outwardly directed flange on the innersleeve'when the'outer sleeve is slid along'the'inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having circumferential slots therein arranged in spaced relation, the portions of the outersleeve above each'of'the slots -being outwardly directed toform louvers, aspring member arranged within said inner sleeve, said spring member including a'shoulder portion, said inner sleeve having a slot through'which said shoulder portion projects, said shoulder being directed to engage the inwardly directed flange on the outer sleeve,

said spring including anupwardly extending portion which terminates'ln an outwardly extending portion accessible from without the chimney and a pull member mounted on said first mentioned sleeve.

ROY C. MILLER. 

